1/2 Brassed Off

Saturday 28 November
Feilding Brass
Feilding Civic Centre Concert Chamber

On Saturday 28 November I attended, as I do every year now, the Feilding Brass end of year concert in the Feilding Civic Centre Concert Chamber.

I first played in a brass band when I was thirteen and in five different bands over the years since so I knew what I expected to hear and enjoy - a traditional brass band concert containing a mixture of old favourites and modern arrangements. But what I experienced was different - very different.

To begin with, the title "1/2 BRASSED OFF" - I had seen and enjoyed the movie "Brassed Off" about a band of miners in the north of England faced with the closure of their band due to the closure of the pit upon which their income depended. So Feilding Brass was going to play music from the movie but more than that, they were going to tell the story of the miners' band as well. This would take all the first half of the concert hence the title "1/2 Brassed Off."

There was a narrator, Ben Ellery, who did a fine job. His younger brother, Nicholas, was in charge of a series of over 500 'stills' from the movie shown on a very large screen as the narrator proceeded and Feilding Brass played nine items from the movie. The most memorable was when in the movie, the conductor, played by Pete Postlethwaite, was ill in hospital, his band assembled in the grounds outside and played Danny Boy. An emotional episode, wiith house and stage lights off, Feilding Brass donned miner's helmets each with a miner's lamp attached and played their own version of the well known tune.

Other memorable pieces from the first half included the Concerto De Aranjuez flugel horn solo, played magnificently by Robbie Cargill and the finale from the William Tell Overture as played by the movie band when winning the National Championship.

The second half was more traditional but no less enjoyable. It included items by gifted guest vocal soloist Fran Barber, another smooth flugel solo by Robbie Cargill during Barrie Gott’s Lightwalk and a delightful dance routine from young dancers Michael and Chloe Ashdown who danced to popular New York, New York.

 A Feilding Brass concert without an item from Steve Mackley is almost unthinkable and we were not disappointed. Along Came Steve - sorry, Along Came Jones was vintage Mackley as he sung all the parts and acted out the story all at the same time.

Other items familiar to many were The Magnificent Seven, Yellow Submarine (Feilding Brass style) and Jesus Christ Superstar suite.

A sad note was the announcement that Peter Ellery, the musical director of the band for the last 29 years, is contemplating retirement from that position next year.

This concert is a credit to all band members, officials, sponsors and particularly Peter Ellery thanks to you all for a most enjoyable evening.

Programme
March: Death or Glory, Robert Browne Hall
Floral Dance, Katie Moss arr. Derek Broadbent
‘Adagio’ from Concierto De Aranjuez, Joaquín Rodrigo
Soloist: Robbie Cargill (Flugel Horn) , arr. Kevin Bolton
March of the Cobblers, Bob Barratt arr. Edrich Siebert
Florentiner March, Julius Fucik arr. R. Barsotti
Irish Tune from County Derry (Danny Boy), Percy A. Grainger
Clog Dance, John Marcangelo arr. Bill Charlston
Colonel Bogey (excerpt), Kenneth J. Alford
William Tell Overture, Gioachino Rossini
                                  ~ Intermission ~
Symphonic Soul, Henry Mancini arr. Klaas van der Woude
New York, New York, Fred Ebb / John Kander arr. Goff Richards
Dancers : Michael & Chloe Ashdown
The Magnificent Seven, Elmer Bernstein arr. Alan Fernie
Yellow Submarine, Lennon / McCartney arr. Alan Fernie
Lightwalk,  Barrie Gott
Soloist: Robbie Cargill (Flugel Horn)
    ~ Guest Artist: Fran Barber (vocalist/guitarist) ~
Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber arr. Alan Fernie
A Trip Down Memory Lane    
Along Came Jones, Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
Soloist : Steve Mackley (vocal)
The Greatest Show on Earth, Alan Fernie

Douglas Carian

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